Congrats to all the medalists. So happy for the Shibs. Knew they would be competitive this season after I saw them in Canton six weeks ago. Their FD is a joy to watch. I&K looked shocked in the Kiss & Cry to find themselves off the podium. I&K are talented but their programs are blah. Also enjoyed D&W FD tango. Really difficult lifts - that's what I saw them working on mostly when I was in Canton. Nice to see the whole program. They are always entertaining. Programs are still a little rough, which is probably why Meryl commented that the FD was "a battle", but to be fair, they had very late start on their programs. Expect to see both routines improve as the season progresses.

just watched davis and white's FD and I really love it. Of course, I just always am breathless about their twizzles, overall speed and closeness, and precision. but for some reason I can't quite explain, i really noticed or got into the shapes they created this time. Really lovely. I am a little - i don't know - uncomfortable about that lift that ends up with Charlie holding her at the knees with one arm - all I could think was it felt strange at first and dangerous by the end. other than that, I really like this fd. can't wait to watch more of them.

Congrats to all the medalists. So happy for the Shibs. Knew they would be competitive this season after I saw them in Canton six weeks ago. Their FD is a joy to watch. I&K looked shocked in the Kiss & Cry to find themselves off the podium. I&K are talented but their programs are blah. Also enjoyed D&W FD tango. Really difficult lifts - that's what I saw them working on mostly when I was in Canton. Nice to see the whole program. They are always entertaining. Programs are still a little rough, which is probably why Meryl commented that the FD was "a battle", but to be fair, they had very late start on their programs. Expect to see both routines improve as the season progresses.

Yes, this is what I felt. And I just realized, this is the first year that they haven't had the pressure of being the 2nd team (or not) to Tanith and Ben. Not only did they have so much more touring and TV and appearance stuff going on (and so, less time to work on their programs, not to mention choosing to drop the Amelie program)-they actually had the luxury of being able to do it without having huge worries.

And about I&K-it looks like they really didn't have time to prepare properly either, which I think is what Tarasova was getting at. With those lifts from Schindler, their FD has a comic ballet rather than a dramatick ballet flavor just now. However, I would expect them to have new lifts, as they promised at Russian test skate, before Russian Nationals. The program would them be much much better.

BTW, do you have any idea what their plan is to get up their tech marks in the GW?

Originally Posted by emma

just watched davis and white's FD and I really love it. Of course, I just always am breathless about their twizzles, overall speed and closeness, and precision. but for some reason I can't quite explain, i really noticed or got into the shapes they created this time. Really lovely. I am a little - i don't know - uncomfortable about that lift that ends up with Charlie holding her at the knees with one arm - all I could think was it felt strange at first and dangerous by the end. other than that, I really like this fd. can't wait to watch more of them.

1. I/K had FIVE level two elements. Give one advantage they were supposed to have was their ease at creating level four elements (first level four FD last season), this is troubling for them.

2. One thing that bugs me (and I do it too) is the feeling of "oh, well, of course Davis/White will win now that Virtue/Moir are injured." They can beat V/M with V/M at the top of their game. Just wanted to toss that in their to combat the feeling of inevitability that surrounds how we're talking about them.. I don't like the SD (format more than anything), but the FD has loads of promise. As emma mentioned, they are interested in the beauty of their positions (something we didn't see last year, though Samson and Delilah had some of it). Can't wait to see where this goes. I really do hope they develop their "on-ice" personality more - this program demands it.

3. I don't like that the teams don't have to do a long lift now. It was particularly noted in Weaver/Poje's performance where he does a lift, puts her down, picks her up and does the rotational lift. Speaking of W/P, despite being really enthusiastic about the fact that they medalled (check the prediction thread to see how many thought the junior teams would beat them), I have to say I wasn't enthralled by this FD (haven't seen the SD yet). Poje is a wonderfully masucline skater and he presents Weaver very well, but it's so obvious she's channeling Shae-Lynn Bourne and in things like extension, posture.... that's not a good thing. This program has potential, though.

4. The Shibutanis are just marvelous. Again, he presents her so well, but she's so lovely (the growth spurt did wonders for her, didn't it?) and they match and this a lovely program for them.

The only way I can see it looking better is if she were more stretched out and less bent at the waist. But I absolutely do not want them to try that because one caught edge by Charlie or if his arm were to give way and down Meryl would go in a very unprotected position. (Even worse then the position that Marie-France Dubreuil was in when she fell from that rotational lift at the Olympics.)

I think they should re-think the whole 2nd part of that lift- the part where she goes sailing up to the position standing on his leg works with the music and is really nice, but the rest of the positions while incredibly difficult don't seem to have any real connection to the music.

I missed Meryl and Charlie's FD for the most part because I was eating. But yay Shibutanis! And I'm happy for Weaver and Poje too even though I'm not sure if I like this program. I liked the Russians' program, even though I hated their SD. Not surprised that Davis and White won though. lol.

Loved Maia and Alex's FD and just how light on their feet they are. For those that saw it, did anyone else catch the "joke" and I'm thinking it was intentional too. Where the lyrics go "There may trouble up ahead..." what do they start right after that? Their twizzles. Dad thought I was nuts when I started laughing and he couldn't figure out what was so funny. After I explained it him, we both agreed that *had* be on purpose and a rather neat bit of poking a bit of fun at a portion of the FD that we fans all know can be a killer for a team if messed up. Congrats to them on their first Senior GP Medal!!!

I really enjoyed Kaitlyn and Andrew's FD. I think it's a perfect fit for them and that Kaitlyn makes a really great Satine. :D Some of their lifts were really spectatular, but I was really impressed by how comfortable w/the program they are so early in the season. Even w/the little bob and bobble here and there, it still looked to me more like a Mid Season performance than an Earlly one. Can't wait to see it improve as the year goes on.

Meryl and Charlie...I honestly am not sure what to think. It was good, but I can't quite put my finger on it. There just seems to be something missing and I don't know what. It didn't help they were tentative, which I get w/it being early in the year, but...I just don't know. I want to gush about it, especially as it's a Tango and that's my favourite Dance, but...There's just something not quite right and I don't know what that is. I am happy to see Meryl's costumes this Season are such deep colours, as I feel w/her skin colouring, light coloured costumes wash her out a bit. Glad to see that won't be the case this year.

C/L: what a blah FD, so lame. I really wanted this to be good esp. since I've literally drooled over all of their FDs. Oh well, at least she still looks like an amazing diva.

I/K: It seems like they have their SD and FD mixed up. Don Quixote would have been an amazing waltz, the costume she wears for it even seems perfect for it. They might be able to develop Agony/tango better as a free dance. This was somewhat underwhelming, theyve been hyped up all summer, this was a bit of a let down. On the bright side, she's another amazing dark-haired diva.

Shibs: congrats, I only thought they had an outside chance of medaling. they definitely deserved this. very lovely skating. Such a wise decision to keep the dance simple, young teams tend to not handle elaborate themes well. Actually, most teams aren't able to handle elaborate themes well.

W/P: I knew they were going to hit this dance out of the park. Perfect choice of music. If Moullin Rouge was remade, these two could easily be recasted as the leads. (such handsome looking couple). Although it felt kinda weird to see dubreuil/lauzon lifts in their FD and SD.

D/W: expected a win. I appreciate that they really went for it, rather than just coasting. Not crazy about either the SD/FD. Usually programs have to grow on me, but I'm not that hopeful with these dances. Anyway, this dance is freakishly difficult and was skated well considering how this is the first comp of season. I'm expecting them to skate this so much better later on, cant wait.

I think that Meryl and Charlie's free dance is the perfect vehicle for them this season. It needs some work, but it's a program that can highlight their strengths, while helping them improve on their weaknesses. They've made improvements over last year in lines already, they're just missing the attack that they usually have.

Since D&W were skating in their old Tango OD costumes, I suspect that those aren't their final FD costumes...and I expect that they are not as far along in their preparation by GP as fans have come to expect of them. I'm merging the two FD threads BTW.

As to W&P's lifts, I don't know why couples that prefer to stick with tried and true lifts do that. The Kerrs do it too. Perhaps I'm spoiled by the Shpilband teams who have some new lifts (if not all new lifts) every year.